Hibs revel in Deek mania

EASTER ROAD has been gripped by "Riordan-mania" with replica shirt sales soaring alongside tickets and hospitality packages as Hibs supporters gear up for Derek Riordan's second-time-around debut against Dundee United.

Daily sales of shirts have quadrupled since it was announced the fans' idol was returning to Hibs on a three-year deal, while the club have been inundated with requests for tickets for the United match tomorrow week.

Such has been the frenzy surrounding 25-year-old Riordan's signing, Hibs have been forced to order in extra supplies to cope with the demand from fans who want to buy a jersey with his name and unique number "01" on the back.

Today Ian Spence, Hibs director of marketing and communications, said: "The response to Derek's return has been staggering, I haven't seen anything like it in my time with the club.


"Within half an hour of the announcement we had taken 55 orders for shirts with his name and number on it. We've had to order extra 'Rs', zeroes and ones to satisfy the demand.

"The fact Derek will be wearing 01 on his back seems to have caught the imagination and over the past few days replica shirt sales have, on a daily basis, been four times what they were, all thanks to his return."

Ticket sales for the visit of United have also surged as have requests for hospitality packages from fans determined to be there to see Riordan's first game back following an unhappy two years with Celtic.

Spence said: "The day after Derek signed we sold three times as many tickets for the game as we had on previous days and since then even that has doubled again.

"Bearing in mind the United game is a 'Hibs Kids' day, if tickets continue to sell at the current rate the match will be close, if not completely, to a sell-out."

Hibs are now in the process of launching a special T-shirt to mark Riordan's return, playing on his name and number.

Meanwhile, Hibs boss Mixu Paatelainen today predicted Steven Fletcher will be back among the SPL goals after watching the striker score twice as he captained Scotland's under-21 side beat Slovenia 3-1 last night.

Fletcher netted after only 58 seconds and wrapped up the win with his second goal to keep the young Scots on track for the finals of their European Championship, although Scotland boss George Burley is now under pressure to promote him into the full squad for next Wednesday's World cup qualifier in Iceland.

While that is a decision for Burley, Paatelainen was delighted to see Fletcher break his goals drought. He said: "Fletch scored two fantastic goals which was good to see.

"When a player scores goals at international level he always comes back full of confidence and there is no question whatsoever in my mind that Steven will be scoring for us."

Paatelainen today signalled his intent to fight a four-match ban imposed by the SFA after he was sent to the stand by referee Iain Brines during Hibs Co-operative Insurance Cup defeat by Morton by insisting he'll make a personal appearance in front of the disciplinary committee to state his case.

If he loses he will be banished from the dug-out for Hibs' matches against Hamilton, Rangers, Aberdeen and Hearts.